Missoula County - [Department Name]

Environmental Health: Water Services

Introduction - Drinking Water Wells

Missoula City-County Health Department and
Missoula Valley
Water Quality District take water issues very seriously. The efforts to
maintain an adequate supply of clean ground water and keep our surface
water resources healthy are primary goals of Missoula City-County Health
Department. To facilitate these goals, we have a variety of
services to offer to the community and the individual.

Water is essential to life. The water we use for our drinking
water should be clean and safe. Missoula County residents who
drink water from a well, fall into one of several categories of
well user:

Private – individually owned well used by one or two
families

Multi-family – group owned well that serves 3 to 14
families totaling fewer than 25 people

Public – serving 25 or more people 60 or more days in a
calendar year. There are three types of public water supplies:

Community: serves 15 or more families at their residence,
such as trailer courts, housing developments, entire
communities, etc.

Non-Transient Non-Community: serves the same 25 or more
people in places such as schools, churches, places of work, etc.

Transient Non-Community: serves 25 or more people in places
such as grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, public
accommodations, pools and spas, etc.

Private wells are not regulated, but the US EPA has
recommendations for well owners. Individuals with private wells must
manage their own water to make sure it is clean and safe to drink. The
way to make certain your water is not contaminated is to
test a sample of your tap water. Testing
determines whether or not your water is potable water, water free of
total coliform contamination. If the water sample you test is
contaminated, you may call your local health department to get
instructions about disinfecting your
well or use the links provided on this page.

Public water wells are regulated and held to a higher standard.
They must meet federal rules for clean water as provided in the
Safe Drinking
Water Act. The owner of the public water supply is responsible for
providing water safe to drink. Community and Non-Transient water
supplies must also have a specially trained water operator to help
manage the water supply. Water operator certification is provided by the
Montana Department of Environmental QualityMissoula County Water Quality District/a>